WEST Swindon Family Centre has already taken steps to improve after being graded as inadequate in its Ofsted report.

Inspectors came to the centre in Freshbrook in March, and found it was lacking across all three criteria.

But the Family Centre’s first Ofsted report did not come as a shock to the management, which has already taken steps to make the necessary improvements.

Mike Smith, the centre’s business development co-ordinator said: “We knew this was coming but we have already put in place some improvements even before the report came out, one of which was my appointment.

“In terms of the first concern about access it is about making sure that we are making people aware of the provision and service we offer.

“We have had it confirmed that there are funds available for a volunteer co-ordinator who will be able to work on this by engaging with people who want to be involved.”

The report found not enough families from the local area were engaged or registered by the centre, that too few adults were encouraged to access further education, employment or training and governance arrangements were weak.

It also criticised the centre’s tracking and measuring systems.

But the report praised the centre for its quality care and support.

“Staff are well qualified, experienced, enthusiastic and well trained,” said the report.

“Families appreciate how friendly and approachable they are, and benefit from positive relationships and support in times of need.

“Good care and advice are given to families in a supportive environment that encourages the confidence of both children and their parents and improves the quality of their lives.

“Many parents report the centre has made a difference to their lives, with one parent reporting, ‘I am more confident in being a parent, my son is happy, sociable and confident.’”

It was the first Ofsted report since the centre began to provide children’s centre services in 2006, and the management are confident they can reach a “good” level within a short space of time.

Brian Senior, the chairman of the centre’s trustee committee, said: “The parents who use the service and the Ofsted report say that we do provide good quality care and support, we just need to improve on a few things.

“If any of the parents who use the service, or those thinking about using the service have any questions about the report they should call us.”

Comments (2)

Its amazing that these council places that bleed money are allowed to continue to be inefficient. There is so much money thrown at them, the staff are very well paid yet they seem to revel in being bad.Surely the council has a duty to make sure these places run properly and provide the service and standard that is consistnet with the vast amount of money they are given.Yet another swindon council rip off,paying people to not do a decent job.

Its amazing that these council places that bleed money are allowed to continue to be inefficient. There is so much money thrown at them, the staff are very well paid yet they seem to revel in being bad.Surely the council has a duty to make sure these places run properly and provide the service and standard that is consistnet with the vast amount of money they are given.Yet another swindon council rip off,paying people to not do a decent job.beach1e

beach1e wrote:
Its amazing that these council places that bleed money are allowed to continue to be inefficient. There is so much money thrown at them, the staff are very well paid yet they seem to revel in being bad.Surely the council has a duty to make sure these places run properly and provide the service and standard that is consistnet with the vast amount of money they are given.Yet another swindon council rip off,paying people to not do a decent job.

Yes the Council do have a duty to ensure these places are run properly and efficiency, but when those at the top doing the monitoring as as useless as those at the bottom, this is what you get. And those lower down the food chain see those higher up being paid really good money and pensions and conditions being entirely useless and wonder why they bother!

[quote][p][bold]beach1e[/bold] wrote:
Its amazing that these council places that bleed money are allowed to continue to be inefficient. There is so much money thrown at them, the staff are very well paid yet they seem to revel in being bad.Surely the council has a duty to make sure these places run properly and provide the service and standard that is consistnet with the vast amount of money they are given.Yet another swindon council rip off,paying people to not do a decent job.[/p][/quote]Yes the Council do have a duty to ensure these places are run properly and efficiency, but when those at the top doing the monitoring as as useless as those at the bottom, this is what you get. And those lower down the food chain see those higher up being paid really good money and pensions and conditions being entirely useless and wonder why they bother!house on the hill